>>>>> "Russell" == Russell Woodford <> writes:
Russell> Word is filtering through about a large oil slick near
Russell> ASHMORE REEF, west of Darwin, NT. Nobody seems to be
Russell> saying much, but two sources have been suggested: (A) lost
Russell> / dumped from an unknown vessel; or (B) released from on
Russell> shore. This does not bode well for marine life and birds
Russell> around the reef. Can anyone tell us more - and more about
Russell> the nature of the reef itself?
All I can say is that it is a `traditional' fishing area for the
Indons, mostly for clam and beche-de-mer (sea cucumbers, ascidians,
whatever...) and from all accounts it is pretty debilitated
already. There was a Geo (blush) article about it a while back.
An oil slick won't help, though.
Russell> On a brighter note, the Point Hinchinbrook Resort
Russell> development has not had everything its own way. Developer
Russell> Keith Williams has been told that he may NOT clear
Russell> mangroves to build a beach. The Queensland Government
Russell> gave the project an OK, but Federal Conservation Minister
Russell> John Fawlkner (sp.?) stepped in and vetoed the plan. I
Russell> believe that the mangroves are listed under certain
Russell> environmental protection conventions.
John Faulkner is not a popular man around Cardwell. Back in July
when I was last there, as we arrived in the town we were visually
assaulted by a large, rudely lettered, red-necky looking sign
announcing "Senator Faulkner's Folly!!!" and going on to explain in
great detail what his errors, misdemeanors and crimes were. I
thought to myself then that he must be doing something right...
On the matter of alarming developments, I was informed today that
Broome is getting ready to boom, Cairns style, largely by French
(well, that *was* the plan...) and Japanese money. (This was by
someone seriously thinking of taking part in it.) Broome is a
major wader stopover place for the migration; does anyone know if
the mangroves and mudflats around Broome are in any way protected?
Bill
_________________________________________________________________
William Venables, Department of Statistics, Tel.: +61 8 303 3026
The University of Adelaide, Fax.: +61 8 303 3696
South AUSTRALIA. 5005. Email:
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